Rumor: Chip for next Xbox codenamed Oban, in production since December

A report over on tech blog Fuzil states that last year, Microsoft commissioned IBM and Global Foundries to co-design a processor for its next Xbox console, and the hardware is will be included in development kits which are to start shipping out in April.

According to the report, the high-performance PowerPC CPU, codenamed Oban, went into production back in December and is similar to an “ATI Southern Islands GPU, or modified 7000 series.”

The report also states that massmarket production is “a year off”, implying the next Xbox console won’t see a release until 2013 when the current console turns 8 years-old.

Various rumors over the last few months have pegged the next Xbox for release in 2012, with many analysts and industry vets stating 2013 would more likely given Xbox 360’s continues viability.